Rule asks uk government buildings in Wales to fly union flag every day
NEW rules mean UK Government buildings in Wales will be asked to fly the Union Flag every day.
The UK Culture Secretary has said the change will be “a proud reminder of our history and the ties that bind us”.
But the move has been criticised by a Plaid Cymru MP, who said it revealed the Tories’ “desperate insecurity about the future of the UK”.
Currently, Union flags are only required to be flown on all UK Government buildings on designated days, like the Queen’s birthday.
But the new guidance from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will ask for it to be flown all the time in England, Scotland and Wales – unless another flag is being flown, such as Wales’ Y Ddraig Goch, Scotland’s Saltire, or a county flag or other flags to mark civic pride.
UK Government ministers said the changes would be a “proud reminder of our history and the ties that bind us”.
Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick has written to all councils in England in a bid to encourage them to fly the flag on their buildings.
The move will also cut red tape to allow dual flagging – where two flags can be flown on one pole.
They say this will allow organisations to highlight their local identity alongside their national identities.
Other flags may also be flown on nondesignated days including a saint’s day.
A statement said: “The department will ask that all UK Government buildings in England, Wales and Scotland fly the Union Flag every day.
“Union Flag-flying in UK Government buildings in Northern Ireland is covered by separate legislation.”
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “The Union Flag unites us as a nation and people rightly expect it to be flown above UK Government buildings.
“This guidance will ensure that happens every day, unless another flag is being flown, as a proud reminder of our history and the ties that bind us.”
Mr Jenrick said: “Our nation’s flag is a symbol of liberty, unity and freedom that creates a shared sense of civic pride. People
rightly expect to see the Union Flag flying high on civic and government buildings up and down the country, as a sign of our local and national identity.
“That’s why I am calling on all local councils to fly the Union Flag on their buildings – and today’s guidance will enable them to do that.”
Liz Saville-Roberts said: “The Tories know that independence for Scotland is inevitable and that Wales will be hot on their heels.
“Sticking flags on every street corner will not change that fact, and rather, only reveals their desperate insecurity about the future of the UK.”
The Union Flag dates back to 1606, when King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England and it was decided that the union of the two countries should be represented symbolically by a new flag.
In 1801 following the Act of Union of Ireland with England, Wales and Scotland, the Cross of St Patrick was included on the design.
The move comes after a row about BBC Breakfast presenters Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt, who got embroiled in an “anti-patriotism” row after a joke was made during a chat with Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick about the size of the British flag on display in his office.
And newsreader Huw Edwards said he was “ordered” to delete a tweet of himself with a Welsh flag by his BBC bosses.
The 59-year-old, who presents the broadcaster’s nightly News at Ten programme, posted the tongue-in-cheek tweet in response to the online attacks yesterday against his breakfast show colleagues.
Asked on Wednesday if the Union Flag should be more prominent around Wales, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said: “I think the Union Flag is an iconic brand.
“I don’t think we should ever use it for political purposes, though. I think that would be a strange thing to do, sort of try and make a political point out of it.
“It is the flag in the UK. I think it’s recognised across the world as such and respected across the world as such, just as the Welsh flag is probably as prominent and as relevant a brand in itself.
“I’ve never thought of flags being part of political weaponry, I don’t think they should be. My view about the union is it isn’t a political party, and we shouldn’t politicise the union.”